Method for operating an active ironing board

ABSTRACT

An ironing board ( 1 ) comprises a fan ( 20 ) for generating an airflow and a controlling unit ( 40 ) for controlling a mode in which the fan ( 20 ) is driven during operation of the ironing board ( 1 ). When there is a need for obtaining an airflow through an item to be ironed, the controlling unit ( 40 ) puts the fan ( 20 ) to a mode in which it is driven at a normal operating speed. However, when there is no such need, the controlling unit ( 40 ) puts the fan ( 20 ) to a mode in which it is driven at a speed which is lower than a normal operating speed. In this way, it is achieved that the fan ( 20 ) is continuously driven during operation of the ironing board ( 1 ), also in case an ironing process performed with the help of the ironing board ( 1 ) does not require an operation of the fan ( 20 ). As an advantageous result, condensation of steam inside the ironing board ( 1 ) is prevented.

The present invention relates to a method for operating an ironing boardhaving air-displacing means comprising at least one air-displacingdevice such as a fan for generating airflow.

Such an ironing board is known, for example from U.S. Pat. No.6,655,055, and is also referred to as active ironing board. In general,an active ironing board is suitable to be applied in a steam ironingprocess that is aimed at treating items such as garments with steam forthe purpose of removing wrinkles from these items. In many cases, theitems are also heated during the steam ironing processes, for example bymeans of a hot soleplate of a steam iron that is applied during thesteam ironing process.

An important function of the active ironing board is supporting items tobe ironed. For that purpose, the active ironing board comprises asupporting panel, which is preferably perforated, such as to be capableof letting through air and steam. In many cases, the supporting panel ismade of flat metal, and a cover of flannel or the like is placed overthis panel to offer more comfortable ironing. Furthermore, the activeironing board comprises a ventilating unit for sucking in and blowingout air and steam through the cover.

When the active ironing board is applied in a steam ironing process,steam passes through the cover and the supporting panel, and eventuallygets inside the ironing board. When the steam touches colder surfaces ofelements arranged inside the ironing board, the steam will condense onthese surfaces. In order to avoid problems such as corrosion of metalelements and fungus growth, it is important that measures are taken tokeep the active ironing board dry. According to U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,055,the ventilating unit of the active ironing board should preferablyfunction continuously during a steam ironing session, and, if needed,for a certain period of time after the ironing session is over, in orderto ensure that the ironing board is completely dry.

A disadvantage of the active ironing board known from U.S. Pat. No.6,655,055 is that the operation of the ventilation unit is exclusivelycontrolled by a user of the ironing board. In case the user decides notto operate the ventilating unit continuously during a steam ironingsession, the moisture problems will occur anyway. In other words, it isdependent on the actions taken by the user whether the active ironingboard will remain completely dry, or not. This is a disadvantageoussituation, given the fact that the ventilating unit produces noise, andthere is a considerable chance that the user will choose not to operatethe ventilating unit continuously during a steam ironing process.Furthermore, a user may be aware of the fact that the operation of theventilating unit involves power consumption, and may be inclined toswitch off the ventilating unit now and then during a steam ironingsession, in order to save energy and money.

In case the user of the active ironing board chooses to operate theventilating unit continuously during the steam ironing session, theironing board remains dry, but another problem occurs, namely theproblem of the user getting annoyed and irritated by the noise producedby the ventilating unit.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide another methodfor operating an active ironing board, which is suitable to be used forkeeping the ironing board dry under all circumstances, without requiringaction of a user of the ironing board, and without annoying the user.This objective is achieved by means of a method for operating an ironingboard having air displacing means comprising at least one air displacingdevice such as a fan for generating an airflow, i.e. an active ironingboard, wherein the air displacing means are continuously kept in anactivated state during the operation of the ironing board, wherein, incase there is a need for an airflow capable of acting on an item to beironed when such item is placed on the ironing board, the ironing boardis put to a normal operating condition in which the air displacing meansare operated for the purpose of generating an airflow at a normal flowrate, and wherein, in case there is no such need, the ironing board isput to a ventilating condition in which the air displacing means areoperated for the purpose of generating an airflow at a flow rate whichis reduced with respect to the normal flow rate.

According to the present invention, the air displacing means of theironing board, which comprise at least one air-displacing device such asa fan, for example, are continuously kept in an activated state duringthe operation of the ironing board. However, the air displacing meansare not continuously operated such as to generate an airflow at a normalflow rate, in which the air displacing means are capable of sucking inair for drying an item to be ironed and for keeping it in place on theironing board, or blowing air for inflating an item to be ironed and foravoiding incorrect creases, depending on the direction in which the atleast one air displacing device of the air displacing means is operated.In stead, when it is not necessary to have the air displacing meansgenerating an airflow at the normal flow rate, the ironing board is putto a ventilating condition, in which the air displacing means areoperated such as to generate an airflow at a flow rate which is reducedwith respect to the normal flow rate.

Thus, when the method according to the present invention is applied, theair displacing means are continuously operated during a steam ironingprocess. As a result, steam and/or condensed steam are continuouslyremoved from the ironing board. In situations in which a steam ironingprocess does not require the operation of the air displacing means, theair displacing means are not switched off, but are operated for thepurpose of generating airflow at a reduced flow rate. In this way, it ispossible to realize a continuous removal of steam and/or condensed steamfrom the ironing board, while a user of the ironing board is notunnecessarily confronted with the noise associated with the normaloperating condition of the ironing board. The noise level associatedwith the ventilating condition of the ironing board may even be suchthat the user will hardly notice the operation of the air displacingmeans in this condition of the ironing board. Another advantage of theapplication of the method according to the present invention is that theironing board is operated in an energy-saving fashion, as operating theair displacing means for the purpose of generating an airflow at areduced flow rate requires less power than operating the air displacingmeans for the purpose of generating an airflow at a normal flow rate.

In a preferred way of carrying out the method according to the presentinvention, the reduced flow rate is close to the lowest possible flowrate for effective removal of steam and/or condensed steam from theironing board, so that the level of the noise produced by the airdisplacing means when the ironing board is in the ventilating conditionmay be relatively low. In an even more preferred way of carrying out themethod according to the present invention, the reduced flow rate ispractically the lowest possible flow rate for effective removal of steamand/or condensed steam from the ironing board, so that the level of thenoise produced by the air displacing means when the ironing board is inthe ventilating condition is practically the lowest possible level.Given the fact that the at least one air displacing device of the airdisplacing means is arranged inside the ironing board, the noiseassociated with the ventilating condition of the ironing board may evenbe virtually non-perceptible.

In another preferred way of carrying out the method according to thepresent invention, in which the method is suitable to be used for thepurpose of operating air displacing means comprising one air displacingdevice, the ironing board is driven at a normal operating speed for thepurpose of generating an airflow at the normal flow rate when theironing board is put to the normal operating condition, and the airdisplacing device is driven at a ventilating speed for the purpose ofgenerating an airflow at the reduced flow rate when the ironing board isput to the ventilating condition, the ventilating speed being lower thanthe normal operating speed. Preferably, the speed at which the airdisplacing device is driven is controlled on the basis of at least onecharacteristic of a voltage supplied to the air displacing device, forexample on the basis of pulse-width modulation of such voltage. This wayof controlling the speed at which the air-displacing device is driven isaccurate, and the implementation of this way of controlling the speed atwhich the air displacing device is relatively simple.

In another preferred way of carrying out the method according to thepresent invention, in which the method is suitable to be used for thepurpose of operating air displacing means comprising two air displacingdevices, both air displacing devices are operated when the ironing boardis put to the normal operating condition, and only one of the airdisplacing devices is operated when the ironing board is put to theventilating condition. Preferably, this one of the air displacingdevices is continuously driven at a substantially constant speed.According to this way of carrying out the method according to thepresent invention, an appropriate condition of the ironing board isobtained in a relatively simple manner, namely by using a main airdisplacing device, which is continuously driven at a substantiallyconstant speed, and an auxiliary air displacing device, which isactivated in the normal operating condition, and which is switched offin the ventilating condition.

In yet another preferred way of carrying out the method according to thepresent invention, in the ventilating condition of the ironing board,the air displacing device is driven in a rotational direction associatedwith a sucking action of the device, i.e. a rotational direction inwhich the air displacing device is capable of generating an airflowwhich is directed from a top side of the ironing board, which is adaptedto supporting items to be ironed, to a bottom side of the ironing board.In this way, it is achieved that the steam is directed away from theuser of the ironing board.

In yet another preferred way of carrying out the method according to thepresent invention, the ironing board is heated, as the higher thetemperature, the lower the risk that the steam condenses. For thepurpose of heating the ironing board, the ironing board may be equippedwith at least one heating element.

In yet another preferred way of carrying out the method according to thepresent invention, the airflow which is generated by the air displacingmeans is heated. In general, a drying process is more effective when hotair is used instead of cold air. Therefore, heating the airflow helps toimprove and/or to speed up drying of the ironing board.

The present invention also relates to an ironing board havingair-displacing means comprising at least one air-displacing device suchas a fan for generating airflow, and a controlling unit adapted tocarrying out the operating method according to the present invention.According to a feasible possibility, the controlling means are adaptedto putting the ironing board in the ventilating condition as a default.The ironing board is only put to a normal operating condition when thecontrolling means receive a signal representing a need for doing so.Such a signal may be provided by the user, but may also be provided by asensor, for example, which is arranged such as to detect the presence ofan item to be ironed on the ironing board. In order to enable the userto provide a signal to the controlling means, these means may comprisepush buttons, a handle which is arranged such as to be put in one of apredefined number of positions, or any other arrangement for providinginput to the controlling means. Preferably, such arrangement isincorporated in a steam iron which is used in combination with theironing board. In this way, it is achieved that the arrangement isalways within convenient reach of the user.

In a preferred embodiment, the ironing board comprises one airdisplacing device, wherein the controlling means are adapted to drivingthe air displacing device at a normal operating speed when there is aneed for an airflow capable of acting on an item to be ironed when suchitem is placed on the ironing board, and to driving the air displacingdevice at a ventilating speed when there is no such need, theventilating speed being lower than the normal operating speed.Furthermore, preferably, the controlling means are adapted tocontrolling the speed at which the air displacing device is driven onthe basis of at least one characteristic of a voltage supplied to theair displacing device during operation of the ironing board, for exampleon the basis of pulse-width modulation of such voltage.

In another preferred embodiment, the ironing board comprises two airdisplacing devices, wherein the controlling means are adapted tooperating both air displacing devices when there is a need for anairflow capable of acting on an item to be ironed when such item isplaced on the ironing board, and to operating only one of the airdisplacing devices when there is no such need. Furthermore, preferably,the controlling means are adapted to continuously driving one of the airdisplacing devices at a substantially constant speed.

Advantageously, the at least one air displacing device of the airdisplacing means of the ironing board is drivable in two rotationaldirections. In that case, the user may choose to use the air-displacingdevice to perform a sucking action, in case it is desired to have thesteam removed or to keep an item to be ironed in place on the ironingboard, or to perform a blowing action, in case it is desired to inflatean item to be ironed.

For the purpose of achieving a more effective drying process of theironing board, the ironing board may be equipped with at least oneelement for heating the ironing board and/or at least one heater forheating the airflow which is generated by the air displacing meansduring operation of the ironing board.

In a preferred embodiment of the ironing board, at least a topside ofthe ironing board, which is adapted to supporting items to be ironed,comprises at least one element manufactured from a plastic material thatis resistant to the relatively high temperatures prevailing duringoperation of the ironing board. An advantage of the use of a plasticmaterial in the ironing board with respect to the use of a metalmaterial is related to the fact that a plastic material has betterresistance against the influence of steam and condensed steam than ametal material. Furthermore, condensation of steam is less likely tooccur on a plastic surface than on a metal surface, under the samecircumstances.

The present invention will now be explained in greater detail withreference to the figures, in which similar parts are indicated by thesame reference signs, and in which:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows an ironing board according to a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows an ironing board according to a secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows an ironing board 1 according to firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention. Two main functions of theironing board 1 are supporting items to be ironed in a steam ironingprocess and removing steam from an area where the steam ironing processis performed on the items, i.e. an area located at a topside of theironing board 1.

Underneath the ironing board 1, any suitable type of support may bearranged, so that the ironing board 1 may be positioned at a level atwhich it is convenient for a user of the ironing board 1 to apply theironing board 1 in a process of putting items on the ironing board 1,subjecting the items to a steam ironing process with the help of a steamiron or the like, and removing the items from the ironing board 1.

For the purpose of supporting items to be ironed, the ironing board 1comprises a supporting panel 10. Preferably, the supporting panel 10 ismanufactured from a plastic material that is resistant to the relativelyhigh temperatures prevailing during the steam ironing process. However,the supporting panel 10 may also be manufactured from another suitablematerial, for example from a metal material. An advantage of anapplication of a plastic material is that this material is very durable,and is practically insensitive to the influence of steam and/orcondensed steam. Moreover, steam is less likely to condense on a plasticsurface than on a metal surface, for example, under the samecircumstances. In any case, it is important that the supporting panel 10is permeable to steam. According to a feasible possibility, thesupporting panel 10 is provided with a plurality of holes 11 for lettingthrough the steam.

Normally, the supporting panel 10 is covered by a cover manufacturedfrom flannel or the like, in order to enhance the level of comfortduring the steam ironing process. For sake of clarity, such a cover isnot shown in FIG. 1.

At a position underneath the supporting panel 10, a fan 20 is arranged.The ironing board 1 comprises a more or less closed space 12 underneaththe supporting panel 10, which is accessible through the holes 11arranged in the supporting panel 10, and the fan 20 is arranged in thisspace 12, i.e. inside the ironing board 1.

In the shown example, the fan 20 is drivable in two directions. When thefan 20 is driven in one direction, it generates an airflow which isdirected toward the supporting panel 10, wherein air is blown out,through the supporting panel 10. Contrariwise, when the fan 20 is drivenin an opposite direction, it generates an airflow which is directed awayfrom the supporting panel 10, wherein air is sucked in, through thesupporting panel 10. In the following, a mode in which the fan 20 isdriven such as to blow air out of the ironing board 1, through thesupporting panel 10, is referred to as blowing mode, and a mode in whichthe fan 20 is driven in an opposite rotational direction is referred toas suction mode. In FIG. 1, a flow of air and steam through the ironingboard 1 associated with an operation of the fan 20 in the suction modeis diagrammatically indicated by means of dashed arrows. In the blowingmode, steam and air are blown out of the ironing board 1, via the holes11 in the supporting panel 10, whereas, in the suction mode, steam andair are sucked in, also via the holes 11, and are released from theironing board 1 through outlet holes 13 arranged in another panelpositioned underneath the fan 20.

When the user of the ironing board 1 has placed an item on the ironingboard 1 and desires to inflate this item, the fan 20 may very well beapplied for doing so, provided that the fan 20 is operated in theblowing mode. When there is no need for inflating the item, but it isdesired to dry the item and/or to remove steam from the area where theitem is located, the fan 20 may also very well be applied. However, inthat case, it is appropriate to operate the fan 20 in the suction mode.For the purpose of enabling the user to control the operation of the fan20 in a convenient manner, the ironing board 1 comprises a controllingunit 40. In the shown example, the controlling unit 40 comprises twopush buttons 41, 42 for receiving input from the user, such that whenthe user depresses one of the push buttons 41, 42, which willhereinafter be referred to as blowing mode button 41, the controllingunit 40 puts the fan 20 to the blowing mode, and when the user depressesanother of the push buttons 41, 42, which will hereinafter be referredto as suction mode button 42, the controlling unit 40 puts the fan 20 tothe suction mode. Each of the push buttons 41, 42 may be arranged suchthat the user is enabled to put the push button 41, 42 from a defaultposition, in which the push button 41, 42 is not depressed, to adepressed position by depressing the push button 41, 42, and that theuser is enabled to put the push button 41, 42 to the default positionagain by depressing the push button 41, 42 once again. It will beunderstood that other suitable means than the described push buttons maybe applied for the purpose of providing the controlling unit 40 withinput from the user. Furthermore, it will be understood that such meansdo not necessarily need to be positioned directly on the controllingunit 40 itself, and that it is also possible that such means arepositioned on a steam iron that is used in combination with the ironingboard 1, for example.

As due to the presence of the fan 20, the ironing board 1 is capable ofactively supplying an airflow, the ironing board 1 is also referred toas active ironing board 1. Besides a fan 20, the ironing board 1 asshown in FIG. 1 comprises a heating element 30 which is positioned rightunderneath the supporting panel 10, and which serves for heating theironing board 1 and items to be ironed which may be present on theironing board 1. In this way, the heating element 30 plays a role inincreasing the effectiveness of the steam ironing processes which areperformed with the help of the ironing board 1, and in keeping thesupporting panel 10 and the cover of the ironing board 1 dry.Advantageously, the ironing board 1 is equipped with a temperaturecontrolling device for controlling the temperature of the heatingelement 30, so that the temperature of the heating element 30 may beadapted such as to meet specific requirements related to specificapplications of the ironing board 1. For example, when the ironing board1 is applied in a process of ironing items containing natural fibres, itis desirable to have a higher temperature than when the ironing board 1is applied in a process of ironing items containing synthetic fibres.

In order to avoid problems such as corrosion of elements of the ironingboard 1 under the influence of moisture and fungus growth inside theironing board 1, it is important that the ironing board 1 is kept dry.In this respect, the fan 20 plays a key role, as the fan 20 is used forgenerating an airflow by means of which steam and/or condensed steam areremoved from the ironing board 1, both in the blowing mode and thesuction mode. An advantageous feature of the ironing board 1 is that thecontrolling unit 40 is adapted to continuously driving the fan 20 whenthe ironing board 1 is operated. As has been explained in the foregoing,the fan 20 may be put in one of the blowing mode and the suction mode,depending on input provided by the user. Additionally, the controllingunit 40 is adapted to keeping the fan 20 in yet another mode as adefault, i.e. in a situation in which the user does not want to put thefan 20 to one of the blowing mode and the suction mode, and does notdepress one of the push buttons 41, 42.

According to an important aspect of the present invention, a speed atwhich the fan 20 is driven in the default mode is lower than a speed atwhich the fan 20 is driven in the blowing mode or the suction mode. Itis noted that a lower speed should be understood as being a speed closerto zero, irrespective of the direction of the speed. Furthermore, it isnoted that the level of the speed at which the fan 20 is driven in theblowing mode and the level of the speed at which the fan 20 is driven inthe suction mode do not necessarily need to be equal. Nevertheless, bothspeeds may be considered as normal operational speeds of the fan 20,which are higher than the speed at which the fan 20 is driven in thedefault mode. In the following, the speed at which the fan 20 is drivenin the default mode is referred to as ventilating speed, the speed atwhich the fan 20 is driven in the blowing mode is referred to aspositive normal operating speed, and the speed at which the fan 20 isdriven in the suction mode is referred to as negative normal operatingspeed.

On the basis of optimization studies performed on an ironing board 1having a heating element 30 which is operable in a power range of 300 Wto 500 W, it has been found that suitable flow rates of a generatedairflow in the default mode are in a range of 0.5 m³/minute to 0.8m³/minute. Furthermore, it has been found that suitable flow rates of agenerated airflow in the suction mode are in a range of 1.25 m³/minuteto 1.5 m³/minute.

Preferably, the rotational direction in which the fan 20 is driven inthe default mode is the same as the rotational direction in which thefan 20 is driven in the suction mode. In that way, it is achieved thatsteam is directed away from the user of the ironing board 1.

In view of the above, three operational modes of the ironing board 1 maybe discerned. In the first place, when both push buttons 41, 42 of thecontrolling unit 40 are in a default position, i.e. when none of thepush buttons 41, 42 has been depressed by the user, the fan 20 is drivenin the default mode, in which the fan 20 performs a sucking actionthrough the supporting panel 10 of the ironing board 1, at theventilating speed. In the second place, when the blowing mode button 41is in a depressed position, the fan 20 is driven in the blowing mode, inwhich the fan 20 performs a blowing action through the supporting panel10 of the ironing board 1, at the positive normal operating speed. Inthe third place, when the suction mode button 42 is in a depressedposition, the fan 20 is driven in the suction mode, in which the fan 20performs a sucking action through the supporting panel 10 of the ironingboard 1, at the negative normal operating speed.

Preferably, the push buttons 41, 42 are interrelated such that it is notpossible for the user to depress both buttons 41, 42 at the same time.However, this is not essential. For example, it is also possible thatthe controlling unit 40 is programmed such as to put the fan 20 to thedefault mode in case both push buttons 41, 42 are depressed.

The controlling unit 40 may be of any suitable type. For example, thecontrolling unit 40 may comprise a type of processor which is arrangedsuch as to be operated on the basis of software, for example. In afeasible embodiment, the controlling unit 40 is adapted to controllingthe speed at which the fan 20 is driven on the basis of pulse-widthmodulation of a voltage supplied to the fan 20.

During operation of the ironing board 1, it is ensured that the fan 20is continuously driven. Consequently, it is ensured that circulation ofsteam inside the ironing board 1 and removal of steam and/or condensedsteam from the ironing board 1 continuously take place. Even in case theuser does not want the fan 20 to act on an item to be ironed, either inthe blowing mode or in the suction mode, the fan 20 is still driven,namely in the default mode. As a result, condensation of steam insidethe ironing board 1 does hardly occur or does not occur at all, so thatthe ironing board 1 is kept dry, and problems such as corrosion ofelements of the ironing board 1 and fungus growth inside the ironingboard 1 are avoided. Preferably, the ventilating speed is close to thelowest possible speed for effective removal of steam and/or condensedsteam from the ironing board 1 or is practically equal to this speed, sothat the noise produced by the fan 20 in the default mode is as low aspossible.

The drying effect of the method according to the present invention onthe ironing board 1 may be enhanced by various other measures. Forexample, it is advantageous to have a relatively high number of holes 11in the supporting panel 10, so that a contact area of steam and thesupporting panel 10 may be relatively small, and a number of placeswhere condensation might take place is relatively low. Furthermore, arelatively high number of holes 11 leads to a relatively highpermeability of the supporting panel 10 to steam.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows an ironing board 2 according to secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention. This ironing board 2resembles the ironing board 1 as shown in FIG. 1 to a considerableextent. However, a main difference between the ironing boards 1, 2relates to the fact that the ironing board 1 as shown in FIG. 1comprises only one fan 20, and that the ironing board 2 as shown in FIG.2 comprises two fans 21, 22. Furthermore, the ironing board 2 as shownin FIG. 2 does not comprise a heating element 30 which is positionedright underneath the supporting panel 10. The ironing board 2 comprisesanother element which is capable of providing heat during its operation,namely a heater 50 for heating an airflow which is generated when atleast one of the fans 21, 22 is operated. In the ironing board 2 asshown, the heater 50 is positioned right above the fans 21, 22. Byapplying the heater 50 during the operation of the ironing board 2, thedrying effect of the airflow is enhanced. In an advanced embodiment, theironing board 2 comprises a temperature-controlling device forcontrolling the temperature of the heater 50.

When the ironing board 2 is operated, one of the fans 21, 22, which willhereinafter be referred to as main fan 21, is continuously driven at asubstantially constant speed. Furthermore, another of the fans 21, 22,which will hereinafter be referred to as auxiliary fan 22, is onlydriven when the controlling unit 6 of the ironing board 2 has receivedinformation indicating a user's need of doing so, which is the case whenthe user has placed an item to be ironed on the ironing board 2 andwants to keep this item in place on the ironing board 2 and/or to drythis item, or wants to have a blowing action performed in order toinflate this item.

The speed at which the main fan 21 is driven is preferably chosen suchas to be just high enough for obtaining an airflow which is capable ofremoving steam and/or condensed steam from the ironing board 2. Whenboth fans 21, 22 are driven, the obtained airflow is also capable ofperforming a sucking action or a blowing action on an item placed on theironing board 2, depending on the direction in which the fans 21, 22 arerotated. In the shown example, the auxiliary fan 22 is larger than themain fan 21, and the auxiliary fan 22 is capable of displacing a largervolume of air than the main fan 21. In this way, it is achieved thatboth the main fan 21 and the combination of the main fan 21 and theauxiliary fan 22 are capable of effectively performing their specificfunctions in a proper manner, wherein an application of unnecessarilylarge fans is avoided.

In view of the above, three operational modes of the ironing board 2 maybe discerned, wherein the operational mode is set by the controllingunit 40 on the basis of input provided by the user, through the pushbuttons 41, 42 of the controlling unit 40. In the first place, theironing board 2 may be put to a default mode, in which only the main fan21 is driven. In the second place, the ironing board 2 may be put to amode in which both fans 21, 22 are driven such as to perform a blowingaction. In the third place, the ironing board 2 may be put to a mode inwhich both fans 21, 22 are driven such as to perform a sucking action.

During operation of the ironing board 2, it is ensured that the main fan21 is continuously driven. Consequently, it is ensured that circulationof steam inside the ironing board 2 and removal of steam from theironing board 2 continuously take place. Even in case the user does notwant a blowing action or a sucking action to be performed by the ironingboard 2, the main fan 21 is still driven, at a relatively low speed. Asa result, condensation of steam inside the ironing board 2 is prevented,so that the ironing board 2 is kept dry, while the user does hardlyexperience any hinder in the form of noise produced by the main fan 21.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope of thepresent invention is not limited to the examples discussed in theforegoing, but that several amendments and modifications thereof arepossible without deviating from the scope of the present invention asdefined in the attached claims.

The ironing board 1 as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a heating element 30positioned right underneath the supporting panel 10, whereas the ironingboard 2 as shown in FIG. 2 comprises a heater 50 positioned right abovethe fans 21, 22. Within the scope of the present invention, it ispossible to have an ironing board comprising both the heating element 30for heating the ironing board and items to be ironed, and the heater 50for heating the airflow which is generated by the main fan 21 duringoperation of the ironing board.

In the foregoing, an ironing board 1 is disclosed, which comprises a fan20 for generating an airflow and a controlling unit 40 for controlling amode in which the fan 20 is driven during operation of the ironing board1. When there is a need for obtaining an airflow through an item to beironed, the controlling unit 40 puts the fan 20 to a mode in which thefan 20 is driven at a normal operating speed. However, when there is nosuch need, the controlling unit 40 puts the fan 20 to a mode in whichthe fan 20 is driven at a speed which is lower than a normal operatingspeed. In this way, it is achieved that the fan 20 is continuouslydriven during operation of the ironing board 1, also in case an ironingprocess performed with the help of the ironing board 1 does not requirean operation of the fan 20. As an advantageous result, condensation ofsteam inside the ironing board 1, which is released during a steamironing process in which the ironing board 1 is applied, is prevented.

1. Method for operating an ironing board having air displacing meanscomprising at least one air displacing device such as a fan forgenerating an airflow, wherein the air displacing means are continuouslykept in an activated state during the operation of the ironing board,wherein, in case there is a need for an airflow capable of acting on anitem to be ironed when such item is placed on the ironing board theironing board is put to a normal operating condition in which the airdisplacing means are operated for the purpose of generating an airflowat a normal flow rate, and wherein, in case there is no such need, theironing board is put to a ventilating condition in which the airdisplacing means operated for the purpose of generating an airflow at aflow rate which is reduced with respect to the normal flow rate. 2.Method according to claim 1, wherein the reduced flow rate is close tothe lowest possible flow rate for effective removal of steam and/orcondensed steam from the ironing boarding.
 3. Method according to claim1, wherein the reduced flow rate is practically the lowest possible flowrate for effective removal of steam and/or condensed steam from theironing board.
 4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the airdisplacing means comprise one air displacing device, wherein, when theironing board is put to the normal operating condition, the airdisplacing device is driven at a normal operating speed for the purposeof generating an airflow at the normal flow rate, and wherein, when theironing board is put to the ventilating condition, the air displacingdevice is driven at a ventilating speed for the purpose of generating anairflow at the reduced flow rate, the ventilating speed being lower thanthe normal operating speed.
 5. Method according to claim 4, wherein thespeed at which the air-displacing device is driven is controlled on thebasis of at least one characteristic of a voltage supplied to theair-displacing device.
 6. Method according to claim 4, wherein the speedat which the air displacing device is driven is controlled on the basisof pulse-width modulation of a voltage supplied to the air displacingdevice.
 7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the air displacing meanscomprise two air displacing devices, wherein, when the ironing board isput to the normal operating condition, both air displacing devices areoperated, and wherein, when the ironing board is put to the ventilatingcondition, only one of the air displacing devices is operated.
 8. Methodaccording to claim 7, wherein one of the air displacing devices iscontinuously driven at a substantially constant speed.
 9. Methodaccording to claim 1, wherein, in the ventilating condition of theironing boarding the air displacing device is driven in a rotationaldirection associated with a sucking action of the device, i.e. arotational direction in which the air displacing device is capable ofgenerating an airflow which is directed from a top side of the ironingboard which is adapted to supporting items to be ironed, to a bottomside of the ironing board.
 10. Method according to claim 1, wherein theironing board is heated.
 11. Method according to claim 1, wherein theairflow which is generated by the air displacing means is heated. 12.Ironing board having air displacing means comprising at least one airdisplacing device such as a fan for generating an airflow, and acontrolling unit adapted to carrying out the method according toclaim
 1. 13. Ironing board according to claim 12, comprising one airdisplacing device, wherein the controlling means are adapted to drivingthe air displacing device at a normal operating speed when there is aneed for an airflow capable of acting on an item to be ironed when suchitem is placed on the ironing board, and to driving the air displacingdevice at a ventilating speed when there is no such need, theventilating speed being lower than the normal operating speed. 14.Ironing board according to claim 13, wherein the controlling means areadapted to controlling the speed at which the air displacing device isdriven on the basis of at least one characteristic of a voltage suppliedto the air displacing device during operation of the ironing board. 15.Ironing board according to claim 12, comprising two air displacingdevices, wherein the controlling means adapted to operating both airdisplacing devices when there is a need for an airflow capable of actingon an item to be ironed when such item is placed on the ironing board,and to operating only one of the air displacing devices when there is nosuch need.
 16. Ironing board according to claim 15, wherein thecontrolling means are adapted to continuously driving one of the airdisplacing devices at a substantially constant speed.
 17. Ironing boardaccording to claim 12, wherein the air displacing device is drivable intwo rotational directions.
 18. Ironing board according to claim 12,comprising at least one heating element for heating the ironing board.19. Ironing board according to claim 12, comprising at least one heaterfor heating the airflow which is generated by the air displacing meansduring operation of the ironing board.
 20. Ironing board according toclaim 12, wherein at least a top side of the ironing board, which isadapted to supporting items to be ironed, comprises at least one elementmanufactured from a plastic material that is resistant to the relativelyhigh temperatures prevailing during operation of the ironing board.